Property

Natural disaster zones declared near Nice: insurance deadline looms

Declaration relates to landslides in March 2024

What exactly does maison secondaire mean in France?

Property descriptions are related to the amount of time spent in a property each year

Are the shutters on my French house essential for insurance?

Insurers often differentiate between different shutter and material types

news

Electricity prices will reduce for most French households in January

However the government will seek to increase tax on usage

What gift tax is liable on property in France for UK residents?

Antonia Ridley-Hughes of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query

How can I apply for a visa without finalising home purchase in France?

Short-term rental contracts may be an option

What are the rules for wood-burning stoves in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Change to timeline of energy efficiency rules for French homes announced by PM

More than 600,000 properties may be affected by rule change, allowing them to remain on rental market

Can I cancel French property tax payments in advance if I will be 75 next year?

There are exemptions from paying taxe foncière for some

Second home US buyers resist French property slump

The second home market performed better than the domestic market according to notaire data for 2023

Why are there strict rules around façades on France's streets?

A range of regulations govern the exteriors of buildings in French towns and villages

Must solar panels installed at home be insured in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader question

PHOTOS: See inside US designer's comfortable French chateau

Esteemed US designer Timothy Corrigan traces his passion for France and the projects he has carried out there, including his own magnificent Loire chateau

Court jails large-scale solar panel scammer, 800 victims in France

Over 1,000 people worldwide paid for panels that were never delivered

Electricity bills set to fall by around 10% for millions of households in France

The re-evaluation at the start of next year is expected to follow the global trend of falling energy prices

Is a second home subject to gift tax in France?

Notaires are required to confirm the transaction

Are French property owners set for some good tax news?

Lower year-on-year inflation means that next year’s tax increase should be lower - but not all owners will be affected equally

French property prices stabilising, say leading estate agencies

Agents say 2024 is seeing the end of three consecutive years of falls in transaction volume

MAP: Which areas in France are most popular with second-home owners?

Hundreds of communes are dominated by second homes, with 70% or more of all properties only being used ocassionally

Financial help is available for workers who move in France

The aid available depends on your income, family size, and reason for moving

Households in France without a Linky meter to suffer additional costs

Things set to change for those who submit manual readings

2024 French property tax: which areas are seeing the highest rises?

We review how the taxe foncière is calculated, and which areas have seen the largest increase

Over 1,000 more French towns to levy higher tax on second homes

Around 1,500 communes now intend to charge the levy including popular second-home destinations such as St Tropez, St Malo and Chamonix

Is it possible to buy my ex-partner's share in French home?

Wanting to purchase an ex-partner's share of a property is not unusal

Are €1 home insulation offers in France a scam?

The cost of insulation renovations can be partially covered by a number of schemes

What will happen to our holiday home in France when we die?

John Kitching, a director of French Law Consultancy Limited, answers a reader query

Bordeaux down 6.8%, Nice up 1% - current price data for flats in France

Our chart shows changes over a year and the average price per square metre

Couple must reimburse €400,000 for French home that cannot be lived in

The problem was only discovered after the property had been sold

French property prices: which areas show rises and which falls?

September will be a critical month for the market, say notaires

Man seriously injured during illegal ‘pool squat’ sues owners in France

Now paralysed from the neck down, the man reportedly claims the accident was due to owner negligence

Are French estate agents’ property valuations reliable?

There are a variety of options to get a realistic idea of a home’s value

What repairing our French farmhouse taught me about tiling

Tuile canal can be seen across the rooftops of central France, but can be notoriously tricky to repair

Expandable homes gain popularity in France

Prospective homeowners battling high property prices are increasingly turning to modular houses designed for easy future expansions

Property: see what €50,000 to €700,000 buys you in Nièvre in rural France

Popular with Parisians looking for second homes, a drive to boost tourism in the department means there are bargains to be had in the rural gem

Property owners in French Alps limited to one tourist rental each

‘Prices are skyrocketing and we need to restore balance,’ says mayor

Why is French notaire asking me to provide origin of funds for purchase?

Both domestic and overseas payments may be subject to such checks

Can I avoid having ugly pylons near my French home?

Fibre is being rolled out to France's rural areas

Explained: safety rules for home pools in France and risks if do not comply

Barriers, alarms, shelters - we look at what features are required for pool owners

Tiny houses surge in popularity across France

Despite rising costs, these properties offer eco-friendly, innovative solutions

Letters: Why can't French property deeds be simpler?

Connexion reader asked notaire for a copy of their home's titre de propriété and received a 21-page document in reply

Seven million French properties risk fine under new declaration rule

Many owners have still not completed the obligatory Biens Immobiliers. The deadline was June 30

French second home: in what cases can you be exempt from taxe d’habitation?

Reductions are no longer available but in certain cases owners can be exempted

PHOTOS: Couple transform old village school into quirky French home

The property is enjoying a new lease of life as a guesthouse in the Breton village of Châtelaudren

Mortgage rates in France heading towards 3%

Interest rates have been falling since the start of the year, and the number of loans granted is increasing

French property tax hits owners of lower-value homes disproportionally

Taxe foncière represents up to two months of mortgage repayments in some areas. We also look at reductions and exemptions

Big drop in permits for new homes to be built in France

Permits for single-family homes are down by almost a quarter year-on-year

French DIY chain to stop selling ‘low efficiency’ air con units

Leroy Merlin claims some models use too much energy for the gain they give

Air conditioning at French home: what aid is available to install this?

Many people look for units to cool homes down as summer months get hotter for longer

Small swimming pools make a splash in France

Mini pools under 10m2 are rising in popularity although getting one to avoid paying taxes is a 'silly decision'

Do I keep right to stay in French property for free if owner dies?

Rights to remain in a property after the owner's death can be complex

Can I use bottled gas in my French property?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

'EDF's IT error left me with €8,500 electricity bill for small French house'

The British EDF customer was shocked to receive the bill which was due to faulty Linky readings over three years

MAP: see where property prices have dropped the most in Paris

Drops of around 10% (up to €1,100 less per m2 in real terms) have been seen in several arrondissements. Only one has not seen a significant drop

Eco-friendly shower wins French invention medal

People can enjoy hot showers with minimal environmental impact, using only a few litres of water compared to hundreds from a bath or traditional shower

Did you know French police can check your home when you are away?

Here is how to sign up for the service, as well as a special check for elderly people. Plus, advice on how to avoid ‘fake police’ scams

How to save energy and money running your swimming pool at French home

Try these tweaks to avoid excess electricity and water bills

Second home in France: how to save on running costs

Tax reductions and aid for renovation work can also help boost investment value

Property: See what €20,000, €200,000 - and €2m - buys you in north-east France

Moselle is an area with a colourful past, famous for its white wine

PHOTOS: The Villa Majorelle, an Art Nouveau jewel in north-east France

The emblematic building in Nancy was created by the finest craftsmen of its day

‘Unfair’: Anger over €6,000 bill for clearing neighbour land in France

Débroussaillement is the clearing of overgrowth from a property - and in some cases residents are legally obliged to clear a neighbour’s land at their own cost